Fenland

Fenland's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 95,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Fenland increased by 14%, from about 83,500 to 95,300.

The addition of just under 12,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Fenland was home to, on average, 1.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Fenland

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Fenland increased by three years, from 40 to 43 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 13% of people in Fenland are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Fenland by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Fenland residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care grew at the third fastest rate of all local authority districts across England. The improvement brought health in Fenland close to the regional average 1.2% in Eastof England described their health as good in 2011).

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Fenland remained close to 1.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Fenland by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

Fenland saw Eastof England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.7%) in Fenland reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.5% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 6.3% to 6.5%.

Across the region, only Tendring saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 4.0% to 5.3%).

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability, as the regional average grew from 2.7% to 3.4%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Fenland increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Fenland, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Fenland

Fenland saw Eastof England's second-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (50%) people aged 16 and over in Fenland said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 23% to 28%.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield saw a greater fall in the proportion of married people (from 51% to 45%).

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 54% to 50%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Fenland that rented privately increased from 8.5% to 16% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of Fenland households that owned their home decreased from 75% to 70%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Fenland increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Fenland, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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